Brian Kelly sent a strong message on Garrett Nussmeier to SEC media that provides clarity for LSU Tigers fans

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has now thrown seven interceptions in his last four SEC conference games. The Tigers have lost two games in a row and look like they're all but eliminated from both SEC Championship and College Football Playoff contention. So, with that in mind, SEC media presented a difficult question to Brian Kelly […]

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor
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LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has now thrown seven interceptions in his last four SEC conference games. The Tigers have lost two games in a row and look like they're all but eliminated from both SEC Championship and College Football Playoff contention. So, with that in mind, SEC media presented a difficult question to Brian Kelly on Wednesday.

Would Coach Kelly consider benching Garrett Nussmeier?

Kelly was quick to respond sternly to the ridiculous assertion that Nussmeier's play warranted any benching consideration:

"No, absolutely none. And I know, look, when a coach gives you a definitive answer like that, everybody kind of raises their eyes like, "Oh well, he's just digging his feet in." [Nussmeier] gives us the best chance to be successful. And you know, that's kind of where we're at relative to first or second. We have to do a better job for him. He's got to do a better job. And we believe in him. And we believe that as we continue to grow in the first year of a starter, that he gives us the best chance to be successful."

For those who follow the LSU Tigers closely, it's clear that benching Garrett Nussmeier would be a wild overreaction. Nussmeier is still third in yards per game, and fourth in touchdowns per game in SEC play. There have been plenty of flashes of potential greatness from Nussmeier. Kelly continued:

"So again, I want to be careful that like, when I'm firm in those answers, it's because we've done the due diligence and we've researched is this, we've watched these kids play, and we just truly believe that that he gives us the best options for success."

Rickie Collins, the LSU Tigers' dual-threat backup quarterback very well might be a nice quarterback of the future, but throwing him out there midseason expecting a huge upgrade over Nussmeier would not make any sense at this point. However, Coach Kelly did speak to some of the things Nussmeier must work on moving forward:

"Now, having said that, you can understand what we're working on…There's a couple of things, right?…Getting back to the basic fundamentals will help us immensely…The mechanics are certainly a part of it. We had a similar situation with Jayden [Daniels] earlier in the season where the footwork needed to be better to allow the ball to get out on time. And really your footwork sometimes forces you into the right decisions. It forces you to be where you need to be at the right time, and the right moment…Garrett would tell you that that's probably the number one thing he hears from me the most…And obviously, getting through his progressions. So he's heard a lot of it. He's been great to work with, and he's been diligent in trying to be the best version of himself each and every week."

It's a bit unsettling that Nussmeier is still struggling with things like his mechanics, footwork, and getting through his progressions nearly 10 games into the season, but that's where he is apparently. Fans may need to remember that this is still in fact Nussmeier's first full season as the starter for LSU. When considering his inexperience, he's been perhaps more successful than should be expected.

Regardless of his struggles with interceptions and mechanics, Brian Kelly made it abundantly clear that he is not interested in benching Nussmeier at all. As Kelly said earlier this week, the team can still make improvements in-season and reach their goals that remain. And it seems that–at least according to Coach Kelly–Nussmeier is still the man for the job.

We'll be back with more LSU Tigers coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!

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